Many families are facing homelessness and family violence,
including children like Mel’s who desperately need your
help, right now.

Today there are families in our community who are struggling like never before.

They are trying to pick up the pieces after living through lockdowns and job losses.

Many families are facing homelessness and family violence, including children like Mel’s who desperately need your help, right now.

Mel's story

Loving mum, Mel* fled with her four children from a violent home situation.

Taking just a few belongings with them, they escaped to a relative’s home. Unable to work, Mel struggled to provide for her children. “I was having trouble making ends meet, scraping barely enough together to just feeding the kids each day,” she says.

It was around this time that Mel’s estranged ex and father of her three oldest children approached her. He wanted to resume a relationship with his children and proposed taking them on a fun, fortnight holiday at an interstate location. Mel did not know the consequences that holiday would bring for her three eldest children: Mia 11, Noah 9 and Zoe 6.

Once interstate, the children were told by the father that they weren’t allowed to return home because Mel was a ‘bad mother’. With no idea where her kids were, Mel was frantic. She was also desperate to look after her youngest daughter, Chelsea, who still remained in her care.

We supported, Mel to link with legal support so she could reunite with her children. We also assisted her to remain in safe, temporary accommodation.

“I was barely coping then. If it wasn’t for Windermere I don’t know what I would have done,” she says.

It was not easy for Mia, Noah and Zoe to return home. All were impacted terribly by the situation, showing signs of trauma in different ways.

We organised for the children to receive counselling and supports for trauma.

Today, the family is settled in new housing and back in school routines. Mel has found work and is also planning further study.

*Details have been changed to protect privacy.

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